Early September will see high numbers of shorebirds in suitable areas where fine shorebirding beaches such as nearby Presqu’ile Provincial Park and Amherst Island may produce upwards of 20 species. Later species such as DUNLIN begin showing up toward the latter part of the month, but there will still be plenty of other species that turned up in mid-August still passing through in September.

This is also the month to start watching the shorelines of Prince Edward County for migrating birds of prey. These birds are reluctant to cross the open waters of Lake Ontario, and choose to follow the inland areas along where thermals that will help them in their movement with minimal effort are strong. This migration of buteos, accipiters, falcons, eagles, harriers and vultures will continue well into November.

The first marked drop in temperature is sure to bring a wave of warblers, flooding Birders whose patience has been sorely tried by relatively poor birding in August, will discover that their observations in the field will be attended by more promising results this month the woods with birds in drab autumn plumage which Roger Tory Peterson in his Field Guide to the Birds has thoughtfully labeled “confusing fall warblers.”  NORTHERN PARULA, PALM WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER and CONNECTICUT WARBLER will be passing through this month, along with increasing numbers of earlier migrants such as AMERICAN REDSTARTS, BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, NASHVILLE WARBLERS and TENNESSEE WARBLERS. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, resembling drab sparrows with flashes of yellow on the wings and rump, will increase in numbers this month, remaining until well into November.

A few ducks which we normally associate with winter will have started showing up this month including COMMON GOLDENEYE and GREATER SCAUP, along with a few LESSER SCAUP toward the latter part of the month. If you have never before seen a BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK from the Texas and Mexico areas, the individual that turned up in July south of Milford, is still present in the farm ponds along County Road 10, near the Royal Road junction.

This is also the month when many people erect their feeding stations attracting at least a few of the permanent residents who may be in the process of seeking out feeding areas that may sustain them through the winter. Expect to have BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKERS, NORTHERN CARDINAL and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH as regular clients at this time. Be sure to check the Birdfeeding page of this website to discover why I enjoy an extensive program of birdfeeding each winter.

While many species of blackbirds won’t be peaking until next month, other members of the family such as the BOBOLINK will have all but left the county by early September. Large flights of EASTERN MEADOWLARKS may also be witnessed this month as migrants head on out, leaving only a few individuals behind to challenge the rigors of winter. Some sparrows will be moving through this month too including SAVANNAHS, WHITE-CROWNS and WHITE-THROATS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS, but the best time to see large numbers of these birds is in October. Others like the GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and CLAY-COLORED SPARROW may still be around in September, but are harder to locate.

Migration of other birds including BROWN THRASHER, AMERICAN  PIPIT, both species of kinglets, flycatchers, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, thrushes, wrens and tanagers will also be underway this month.

Birds are moving this month, but identification of these migrants isn’t the cut and dried process that it tends to be in the spring. Foliage can be quite heavy during September, most species are in drab fall plumage and are joined by similarly plumaged juveniles of the year, and very few are in full song, leaving many birders, especially those who bird by ear, mystified as to the identity of many of the migrants that pass through. There are some good field guides on the market today that can help in the process of sorting them all out. Feel free to email me and I will be happy to suggest a few good field guides, as well as a number of outlets in the Quinte area where they may be obtained.

Don’t forget - we do enjoy hearing about your sightings. Everything that comes in is entered on the computer. This information is valuable in getting a better feel for the habits of those birds that choose to migrate through, or nest in, Prince Edward County. Please e-mail:

(Photo credits and descriptions of photos can be seen by "mousing over" each photo. )